VIEW SIMILAR PRESENTATIONS

Takashi Tsunoda (of Twelvetone) speaks on his wonderful paper toys, and how he creates them with the intention of inspiring children to customize and create their own figures. (in Japanese with English subtitles)

Don Kratzer adds to his collection of PechaKucha presentations dealing with the Japanese toy and figure scene with a new installment, this time looking at the explosion of Superheros on Japanese TV and popular culture In the early 1970s. Check out the cast of characters, the amazing vinyl toys, and the charming "pachimon" (bootleg) phenomenon of this bygone era.

Art Director Bao Bin talks about how a limited budget and limitless demands from clients require designers to be able to brain storm and respond very quickly. This resulted in what he called the “Micro Explosion of Mind”. Here he will show us his way of triggering this ‘explosion’ through his thinking and design for Society and Landscape project.

Jim Freckingham walks us through the process by which toy figurines are made. They are often built with the same or similar parts to save costs. Jim then shows us a mini army of toys he's designed and built himself.

The prolific international figure researcher Don "Datadub" Kratzer does it once again -- an in-depth discussion on the history and creation of sofubi or soft-vinyl toys. Perk up your ears as he offers sweet, colorful nuggets of information on the fascinating mid-20th century products.

"When I say factory, it's often a 60 or 70-year old guy who has a shed out by the side of his house. He's pouring the the plastisol, and running it through the process, pulling out the pieces by hand, one by one."

In Sofubi: Soft Vinyl from PechaKucha Night Special @ Autodesk Pop-Up in Tokyo, Don Kratzer discusses soft vinyl as a medium, and particularly soft vinyl toys made in Japan. Versatile and vibrant, it has been used for generations as a medium for making toys and figurines that is proven to last. With advancements in digital technology, new opportunities are presented to those who design sofubi figures and collectibles.